Fans of metallics might go for Blue Star's dramatic collection of ranges, wall ovens and hoods in copper, gold and a chocolate-y ginger, as well as several hundred other colors and finishes. (www.bluestarcooking.com )

Kitchens of any vintage can look great with colorful walls. Pumpkin, cobalt and deep Prussian blue enhance woods, whether you're working with 19th-century pine, Craftsman-era oak or mid-century walnut.

Or consider the ceiling. In a small galley kitchen, bold color on the ceiling creates a "jewel box" effect. Deep hues like eggplant, navy, magenta or carmine compliment white cabinetry in a large kitchen, and look great in both natural and artificial light.

New York designer Gideon Mendelson applied a pea-green gingham canvas cloth to the ceiling of a country house kitchen, and painted the island in a similar shade. With a collection of vintage baskets displayed along the tops of snowy wood cabinetry, the vibe is relaxed, fresh and contemporary. (www.mendelsongroupinc.com)

Meg Caswell, a designer and host on HGTV's "Great Rooms," loves to add color to kitchens. She used a backsplash of crisp, blue and green fused-glass tiles as a counterpoint to a rustic, Old World-style metal and wood kitchen island, glossy black cabinetry and citrine wallpaper in an art deco-era home. In another home, she mixed sleek teal-and-white glass with farmhouse blue cabinets. (www.megcaswell.com; www.hgtv.com)

Baldwin, of This Old House, advises painting upper and base cabinets different colors, or painting an island or hutch in a contrasting shade.

"This helps reinforce their freestanding furniture look, which harks back to 18th- and 19th-century kitchens," she says. (www.thisoldhouse.com)

"Painting the floor — either one color or in a pattern like checkerboard — can reinforce the vintage look too," she notes. Options include graphic designs or stencils, or illustrated rug motifs. Better Homes & Gardens' website has lots of ideas. (www.bhg.com/kitchen)

If you're in a rental with limited decorating options, go for color accents like Fiesta ware, rag rugs, a couple of snazzy stools, and counter appliances in candy hues.